Latest Purchases

No, no fancy stations, and some way short of a full set. No steam locos or 700 series Shinkansens (Apart from the Doctor Yellow). Only three of the numerous colour variants of the modern commuter units. Also more Shinkansens and the maglev. Others, too, no doubt. Still, I've got most of the ones I want. Which prompts two questions.

1. Is there a definitive complete list somewhere of the Advance trains issued?

2. Is there confirmation that Takara Tomy has pulled the plug? Advance still appears on their official website.

---

Thanks, Super. Yes there's a layout. This is the latest photo I have.



It's still just loosely laid. I've since put in some grass mat to replace the grey cloth and am psyching myself up to take it all apart and fix it down properly. There's a terminus (no buildings yet) on the right hand extension and provision for a future extension to the left to give me a rolling stock depot, which will mean I can get more trains in and out of service in an operating session without needing the Great Hand in The Sky. Lots more trees to go in. One or two more buildings needed, though I don't want to overcrowd it. And I need to re-pin the sky backscenes the right way round!

Nice layout, one of the reasons I asked about the stations is that you get the 'transit' stations that were released last year. These allow you to run multiple trains on the same circuit of track, stopping one and waiting for the next to come along before releasing the first. Using this there is the potential to get several trains running round the same circuit if its large enough not to become too overcrowded.

In a similar vein there was also the new 'super station' that arrived last year that has multiple lines running in with the ability to hold the train for a certain length of time, do a transit type release, or just allow some lines to be 'express lines'. Add to that the sound effects as well and it is a superb addition to any layout. This is one I suspect will become highly sought after if the range is indeed now dead.

I did see a link to an official Tomy post that stated the line was now discontinued (no reason given why), I'm not sure but I think it was plarnold who posted it.

---

Maybe the 2 page list over at Hobby Search can help you with the released Advance Trains. I don't know if its all of them but maybe most. http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/list/2565/0/1

I am not into the Advance line but I must say I like how your Layout is starting. Is that a modified short piece of blue track with ballast in the foreground? You have the new style curves, do they really correct the problems that the Advance trains had slowing down on the regular curves? Looks like you need to be looking for regular straights in grey instead of blue. I could never figure out why Plarail didn't release grey expansion track packs for the Advance Line and I really can't figure out why they released those 1" sloped rails in blue when they were specifically released for the Advanced line. Even though they can be used with the regular size Plarail layouts (I use several of them) they were specifically released for the Advance trains because they learned later that the trains would not work well on the regular 17.5" sloped Plarail straits. The set even comes with the grey risers specifically made for the Advance trains because the regular Plarail risers could not be used so why not make the track grey also, I don't get that. Oh Geese...I turned this into a rant...sorry.

I know what you mean about the grey tracks issue Super, its something that annoys me a bit also, but that's life I guess. One solution is to use multiple 're-railers' if you can find enough or alternatively if you have the 'new' track expansion set that has the fancy new curves it also comes with a number of straights (although not that many).

There was also the 'winter' Tomy set released, was that white track or grey track?

---

BTW Cloudman; you asked about a definitive list of loco's? Well this isn't 100% up to date (I'm missing a few of the latest releases and sets), but these are the ones I know about, it's worth bearing in mind some of the solo loco's re-use the same model number (AS-01 or whatever), the designation AS-nnN or AS-nnNN indicate subsequent re-releases under that basic code (i.e. it still says AS-nn) on the packaging...

AS-01 Shinkansen Series 0
AS-01N N700A Shinkansen
AS-02 Japan Pla Rail Bullet Train Series 500 Shinkansen
AS-02N E5 Shinkansen Hayabusa
AS-03 Type 923 Dr. Yellow
AS-04 E231 system 500 Bandai Yamanote Line
AS-05 485 series limited express
AS-05N EF510 Red Thunder
AS-06 Nankai Rapit
AS-06N Skinkansen Toreiyu Tsubasa
AS-07 Shinkansen Series 700
AS-07N Kintetsu limited express tourism Shimakaze
AS-08 Meitetsu Panorama Car
AS-08N Japan Train Steam Locomotive C57 No.1 SL Yamaguchi
AS-09 JR Bullet Train Series 700 Shinkansen Hikari Railstar
AS-09N EF510 bed limited express Cassiopeia
AS-09NN Keikyu 1000 Form Aluminium Train
AS-10 N700-8000 Shinkansen Mizuho/Sakura
AS-11 Series E233 Keihin Tohoku Line
AS-12 JR Japan Electric Bullet Train Series 100
AS-12N Keisei Skyliner Airport Express
AS-13 E3 Shinkansen Komachi
AS-14 Express Train Series 165
AS-14N D51 200 Steam (Blue Carriages)
AS-15 E259 Narita Express
AS-16 E4 Shinkansen Max
AS-17 200 Shinkansen
AS-17N E235 - Yamanote Line
AS-18 E233 Chuo Line
AS-18N E233 Shonan based color
Dual Loco Set Shinkansen E2 Series Yamabiko & E3 Series Tsubasa
Special Edition E233 system Saikyo Line
Special Edition EF510 Kashiopeya
Special Edition EVA 500 Shinkansen
Starter Set Shinkansen Series E5
Starter Set D51 200 Steam (Blue Carriages)
W7 System Hokuriku Shinkansen Shine IR
Dual Loco Set E231 and E233 Suburban

A quick count gives you 40 loco's above